Robert W. Heffer

The Influence of Parenting Styles, Achievement Motivation, and Self-Efficacy on Academic Performance in College Students

Parenting styles have consistently been shown to relate to various outcomes such as youth psychopathology, behavior problems, and academic performance. Building on the research in the parenting style literature, along with examining components of self-determination theory, the present study examined the relations among authoritative parenting style, academic performance, self-efficacy, and achievement motivation using a sample of college students (N = 264) . Results indicated that authoritative parenting continues to influence the academic performance of college students, and both intrinsic motivation and self-efficacy predicted academic performance. Additionally, the study tested the interaction between self-efficacy and authoritative parenting, but the interaction was not significant. Implications for future research and applications are discussed.

A Review of School Reintegration Programs for Children with Cancer

Abstract This article reviews the literature on school reintegration programs for children with cancer. Areas covered include recent legislative mandates regarding schooling for chronically ill children, the importance of school attendance, the effects of cancer on childrens social and academic adjustment, and difficulties in returning to school. Descriptive articles are reviewed to synthesize the literature on best practices for reintegration programs. Existing programs are categorized into three groups and reviewed: school personnel education programs, peer education programs, and comprehensive programs. A discussion of research issues highlights design difficulties in the field. Suggestions are given for school psychologists working with chronically ill children.

A School Reentry Program for Chronically Ill Children

Abstract Children with chronic illness face many challenges as they cope with the medical management of their disease. One of the best ways to promote a sense of normalcy for these children is to promote regular school attendance. A positive experience at school can help children achieve a sense of mastery and control, increase self-esteem, promote fulfilling peer relationships, and decrease emotional trauma resulting from the disease. Recent federal legislation regarding children with medical problems increases the likelihood that a positive school experience will be developed for chronically ill students. This article describes a school reintegration program aimed at overcoming the numerous psychological, physical, environmental, and family-based deterrents to school reentry for chronically ill children. The program uses a systems approach to children’s mental health, with an emphasis on multiple aspects of the child’s environment (i.e., family, medical personnel, peers, and teachers).

Patient-Reported Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales in Pediatric Patients with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Comorbid Psychiatric Disorders: Feasibility, Reliability, and Validity

OBJECTIVES The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the feasibility, reliability, and validity of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ (PedsQL) 4.0 Generic Core Scales as a patient self-reported health-related quality of life measurement instrument in pediatric patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and physician-diagnosed comorbid psychiatric disorders being seen in a pediatric psychiatric clinic. The secondary objective was to evaluate parent proxy-reported PedsQL in this population. METHODS One hundred seventy-nine children with ADHD and comorbid psychiatric disorders ages 5 to 18 years and 181 parents completed the PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales and parents also completed the Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Rating Scales. Known-groups discriminant validity comparisons were made between the sample of pediatric patients with ADHD and comorbid psychiatric disorders and healthy, cancer, and type 1 diabetes samples. RESULTS The PedsQL evidenced minimal missing responses for patient self-report and parent proxy-report (0.2% and 0.5%, respectively), demonstrated no significant floor or ceiling effects, and achieved excellent reliability for the Total Scale Score (α = 0.85 patient self-report, 0.92 parent proxy-report). Pediatric patients with ADHD and comorbid psychiatric disorders and their parents reported statistically significantly worse PedsQL scores than healthy children, with large effect sizes across all domains, supporting known-groups discriminant validity. Pediatric patients with ADHD and comorbid psychiatric disorders and their parents reported worse PedsQL scores compared to pediatric patients with cancer and diabetes with the exception of physical health, in which pediatric cancer patients manifested lower physical health, indicating the relative severe impact of ADHD and comorbid psychiatric disorders. More severe ADHD symptoms were generally associated with more impaired PedsQL scores, supporting construct validity. CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate the feasibility, reliability, and validity of patient self-reported PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales in this high risk population of pediatric patients and highlight the profound negative impact of ADHD and comorbid psychiatric disorders on generic health-related quality of life, comparable to or worse than serious pediatric chronic physical diseases.

Nonorganic Failure to Thrive: Developmental outcomes and psychosocial assessment and intervention issues

Serious growth problems, such as Nonorganic Failure to Thrive (NFTT), place an infant/toddler at significant risk for poor developmental outcomes. Evidently, an NFTT childs malnutrition and subsequent poor growth and development are accentuated by a family context of impoverishment, dysfunctional relationships, inadequate education, and a dearth of developmentally enriching experiences. The purpose of this review is to describe NFTT, to present development outcomes, and to discuss psychosocial assessment and intervention issues relevant to this developmental disability of early childhood. An ideographic approach to case conceptualization, evaluation, and treatment is suggested to achieve successful developmental outcomes and to guide research endeavors.

Dispositional, ecological and biological influences on adolescent tranquilizer, Ritalin, and narcotics misuse

The primary purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which two of the three sources of risk-taking--dispositional and ecological--in adolescence and demographic variables were related to Ritalin, tranquilizer and narcotics misuse. The secondary aim of this study was to distinguish subgroups of Ritalin, tranquilizer, and narcotics misusers using dispositional, ecological and demographic variables. An archival dataset containing 1672 participants (11-18 years old) was used. Ritalin, tranquilizer, and narcotics misuse were dichotomized and hierarchical logistic regressions were computed for dispositional and ecological sources of risk-taking and demographics. To distinguish subgroups of misusers, hierarchical multinomial regressions were computed. Dispositional, ecological, and demographic variables were related to Ritalin, tranquilizer, and narcotics misuse and distinguished among non-users, experimenters/occasional misusers, and frequent misusers. Prescription drug prevention programs should incorporate demographic, dispositional, and ecological variables and should parallel the guidelines currently used for developing effective substance abuse prevention programs.

Ethnicity as a Moderator of How Parents' Attitudes and Perceived Stigma Influence Intentions to Seek Child Mental Health Services

OBJECTIVE Research has identified several variables that affect utilization of mental health services. However, more could be explored regarding ethnic differences among parents seeking help for their children. METHOD In our study, 238 caregivers were recruited from the southern United States to examine ethnic differences in intentions to access child mental health services with the Parental Attitudes Toward Psychological Services Inventory (Turner, 2012) as the primary measure. RESULTS Group comparisons indicated that African-American parents reported less positive attitudes and more stigma than European-American or Hispanic-American parents. Moderation analyses found (a) attitudes were associated with a higher level of parental help-seeking intention among European Americans, but not among African Americans or Hispanic Americans and (b) stigma was associated with a lower parent-reported likelihood of help-seeking for Hispanic Americans, but not for European Americans or African Americans. CONCLUSIONS Ethnicity deferentially impacts attitudes and stigma associated with seeking mental health services. Public education efforts to increase service use should be tailored toward under-served groups to be more effective.

Understanding Nonprescription and Prescription Drug Misuse in Late Adolescence/Young Adulthood

This study explored the extent to which nonprescription and prescription drugs misuse among adolescents/young adults are related to their perception that it is safer than illicit drugs, ease of access, and lower societal stigma. Adolescents/young adults (N = 465; M age = 18.57, SD = 0.86) completed an online survey about their nonprescription and prescription drug misuse, other substance use, and correlates of use. Perceived risk, societal stigma, and access to nonprescription and prescription drugs were predictive of misuse. Results support program planners working towards targeting perceived risk and societal stigma in reducing misuse and the need to restrict and monitor access to nonprescription and prescription drugs for adolescents/young adults.

Diabetes management mediating effects between diabetes symptoms and health-related quality of life in adolescents and young adults with type 1 diabetes

The primary objective was to investigate the mediating effects of diabetes management in the relationship between diabetes symptoms and generic health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with type 1 diabetes. The secondary objective explored patient health communication and perceived treatment adherence barriers as mediators in a serial multiple mediator model.

PedsQL 3.2 Diabetes Module for Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults: Reliability and Validity in Type 1 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to report on the measurement properties of the revised and updated Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) 3.2 Diabetes Module for children, adolescents, and young adults with type 1 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The 33-item PedsQL 3.2 Diabetes Module and PedsQL Generic Core Scales were completed in a 10-site national field test study by 656 families of patients ages 2–25 years with type 1 diabetes. RESULTS The 15-item Diabetes Symptoms Summary Score and 18-item Diabetes Management Summary Score were derived from the factor analysis of the items. The Diabetes Symptoms and Diabetes Management Summary Scores evidenced excellent reliability (patient self-report α = 0.88–0.90; parent proxy report α = 0.89–0.90). The Diabetes Symptoms and Diabetes Management Summary Scores demonstrated construct validity through medium to large effect size correlations with the Generic Core Scales Total Scale Score (r = 0.43–0.67, P < 0.001). HbA1c was significantly correlated with the Diabetes Symptoms and Diabetes Management Summary Scores (r = −0.21 to −0.29, P < 0.001). Minimal clinically important difference scores ranged from 5.05 to 5.55. CONCLUSIONS The PedsQL 3.2 Diabetes Module Diabetes Symptoms and Diabetes Management Summary Scores demonstrated excellent measurement properties and may be useful as standardized patient-reported outcomes of diabetes symptoms and diabetes management in clinical research, clinical trials, and practice in children, adolescents, and young adults with type 1 diabetes.